“The research is clear, and the stories from families and educators echo it. Birth to age five is the most consequential period of learning in a child’s life, and so it’s fitting that early education and care remains at the center of our strategy to ensure that Massachusetts is a place where every student, regardless of zip code or circumstance, has a pathway to realize his her or their dreams.

“Yesterday, Governor Healy announced her House Two budget, and in that proposal, she recommends nearly $2 billion for Early Education and Care, an extraordinary investment that builds upon previous commitments. This funding is the foundation of the Gateway to Pre-K agenda, which strengthens our Commonwealth Cares for Children or C3 program, expands financial assistance, and continues our march toward universal access to preschool.

“As we reflect on these investments, it’s important to pause a moment and acknowledge the leadership behind them. I want to express my deep appreciation for the commissioner of Early Education and Care, Amy Kershaw.”

“With more than 22,000 new seats in early education and care added since the beginning of this administration… The transformation is underway in early education, and it is both real and lasting.”

— Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, 2026 Condition of Education in the Commonwealth, Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy, January 29, 2026 (The video is posted here.)